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Jazz for aficionados

Jazz for aficionados

I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.

Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".

"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.

While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

It was sometime ago that I was told by a professional jazz musician who had tickets to Japan, that they couldn't make it without Japan; that may still be true.

BTW, that musician now resides in France.
frogman
7,532 posts
 
O-10, I could not disagree more with that comment. i would be careful with stereotypes in general. I have performed in Japan many times. Always a very appreciative and knowledgeable audience that, if anything, humbles the musicians due to the contrast to many American audiences. “Pleasing the audience”? Really? This from the guy (Miles) who was notorious and criticized for turning his back to the audience during concerts? I don’t think so. I understand that you don’t like 60’s Miles, but I believe you are confusing dislike with “stereotypical”. That music is anything but “stereotypical” and to suggest that “it is not about the music” is very unfair to the musicians; not to mention not true. There is an awful lot of very inspired playing on that record.
pryso
1,986 posts
 
Interesting, similarly to "So What", "If I Were A Bell" was also played at a faster tempo than I remember hearing it.  So was that just an obvious way that Miles never wanted to play anything the same way twice, or were they in a hurry to get through the performance? ;^)
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 
Pryso,  they were doing what they always did when in Japan; they played to the audience.  If you listen to any jazz album you can find that was recorded live in Japan you will hear "showboating"; that's because the Japanese liked that kind of playing. 

Miles never played songs too fast when he was at home, why did he play it too fast in Japan?
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Pryso, the comment I'm about to make is not about this artists music, (the music is good) but watch her exaggerated movements; this is what jazz is in general over there.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIYIAuwzsGQ


Notice how this tune starts out "normal" but in the middle they jazz it up and break out into some "showboating" jazz; that's what they like in Japan and that's what they give them; sometime it's overdone. Playing tunes too fast might be such an example.


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-T0c3FDEkM
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